Insider Tips From Flight Attendants for Your Next Flight

While pilots are flying the plane, the flight attendants are making sure everything else goes smoothly. The job perks of being able to travel while getting paid are great, but the job has lots of responsibilities and requires a lot of training. They are, after all, responsible for us if anything goes wrong.

Read on to learn some of the behind-the-scenes secrets about working for an airline.

Be Nice To Check-In Staff

GettyImages-50800435
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

It is not smart to be rude to a check-in staff person because they can determine where you sit, and they just might sit you right next to a crying baby.

Plus, the nicer you are, the better your chances of being upgraded turn if a seat becomes available.

ADVERTISEMENT

You Might Want To Think Twice About First Class

ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1310488
Photo by Tim Boyle/Newsmakers
Photo by Tim Boyle/Newsmakers
ADVERTISEMENT

It's probably not all that worth it to sit in first class. Studies have shown that in the event of a plane crash, those who are sitting toward the front of the plane are more likely to die.

ADVERTISEMENT

The safest seats are those within a few rows of the emergency exit and the aisle seats. Studies have shown that passengers in the rear of the plane have the highest survival rates.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tips Are Accepted

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-459770694
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Some do not know that flight attendants can accept tips. Those tips can also go a long way in getting you first-class treatment for the rest of the flight.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's never a bad move to pay it forward, and just like your favorite bartender or service person, flight attendants just want a little extra love, too.

ADVERTISEMENT

Your Extra Bags Won't Cause The Plane To Crash

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1136448251
Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images
Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

While planes are designed to only accommodate one bag per passenger, the truth is your extra bags, though they come with a hefty fee, will hardly affect anything.

ADVERTISEMENT

Depending on how many checked bags do get stowed on the plane, most airlines have practiced using sandbags to even out the weight.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Job Is Not For Everyone

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-2150664
Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images
Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

A flight attendant job is a demanding one. You're constantly jet-lagged, and sometimes having to work on flights back to back.

ADVERTISEMENT

You'll often get 4 A.M. wake-up calls, you could be scheduled to work on holidays, and you are kept apart from your family for long periods of time.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Oxygen Masks Have A Time Limit

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
1037_40_av21094628-45973-35714.jpg
Aviation-images.com/UIG via Getty Images
Aviation-images.com/UIG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The oxygen masks on a plane will deploy when the cabin pressure falls below a certain point, but that doesn't happen often. There are around 12 to 15 minutes of oxygen in those masks, which doesn't seem like a lot of time, but it is.

ADVERTISEMENT

If you ever find yourself in a situation that warrants the use of these masks, just try to relax and breathe. The pilot is working on getting the plane to a safe altitude so you can breathe without them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Keeping Your Gifts under Wraps

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-630512846
Photo by Igor Russak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Igor Russak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Going home for the holidays is a tradition many look forward to, but if you are, you might want to reconsider wrapping your gifts ahead of time.

ADVERTISEMENT

Airport security may have to unwrap and take a look at your items, so you might want to choose a gift bag instead.

ADVERTISEMENT

Turning Off The Phones Isn't Actually That Necessary

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

While failing to turn off your mobile device won't cause the plane to crash, there's still a very good reason that flight attendants ask you to do so.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cellular signals are strong enough to interfere with air traffic control frequencies, which isn't ideal when the plane is trying to take off or land. Turning off your device might help to ease the process.

ADVERTISEMENT

Time To Exit

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
775192068mt012_delta_airlin-59501-54903.jpg
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If your plane is either about to leave or it has just landed, you cannot be on that plane for longer than three hours, and you are more than welcome to get off after that time frame if you wish to.

ADVERTISEMENT

Flight attendants are also required to keep the food and water cart going up and down the aisle after two hours of delay.

ADVERTISEMENT

Flight Attendants Have To Look The Part

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
flight-attendents-03
Photo by Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Images
Photo by Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although the requirements of looking a certain way and being a certain age are long gone, there are still some things that flight attendants must remember.

ADVERTISEMENT

Flight attendants have to have natural hair color, which must be pulled back if it is long. They can't be too tall that their head will constantly be bumping into the overhead bins, but also can't be so short that they can't perform their duties comfortably.

ADVERTISEMENT

Yes, Flight Crews Do Get Involved With Each Other

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Air France CEO Anne Rigail News Conference
Nathan Laine/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Nathan Laine/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Relationships between crew members are apparently quite common, probably because they spend so much time with each other in such an enclosed space.

ADVERTISEMENT

While flight attendants can fraternize with one another, they must still remain professional at all times.

ADVERTISEMENT

There's No Rules Against Flight Attendants Fraternizing With Passengers

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A cabin crew member stands as the new Malta-based Libyan...
Islam Alatrash/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Islam Alatrash/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Many airlines don't really have policies on flight attendants fraternizing with customers. So if you find your flight attendant quite attractive, you can go ahead and shoot your shot.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, more often than not, flight attendants often have to fight off unwanted attention while just trying to do their job.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Have The Power To Restrain You

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
12-75797-97506.jpg
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If a flight attendant really needs to, they have the power to restrain overly aggressive or troublesome passengers.

ADVERTISEMENT

They usually have zip ties available, or they can also use seatbelt extensions as restraints. The passenger is then placed in an area where they can't be disruptive and escorted off at the first stop.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Food Is Questionable Too

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
economou-notitle161001_npdkn-52574-79893.jpg
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

You might also want to think twice about airline food. Meals served on longer flights usually look pretty balanced, but the nutritional content of those meals is shocking.

ADVERTISEMENT

In-flight meals are loaded up with salt, sugar, fat, and simple carbs that make you feel full but actually have no nutritional value.

ADVERTISEMENT

Order Diet Coke If You Want To Be Annoying

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
94425495-53072-13753.jpg
George Frey/Getty Images
George Frey/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Flight attendants hate when a passenger requests Diet Coke, and for very good reason.

ADVERTISEMENT

Diet Coke is noticeably fizzier than other carbonated drinks. And at over 30,000 feet in the air, those bubbles take forever to settle, and that means that it takes about three times longer to pour than the other available beverages.

ADVERTISEMENT

Be Wary of the Blankets and Pillows

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
passengers-sleeping-45298-72559.jpg
Gideon Mendel/Corbis via Getty Images
Gideon Mendel/Corbis via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The only time those pillows and blankets you request are clean is during the first flight of the day.

ADVERTISEMENT

You might want to bring an extra jacket or headrest next time. You can also buy those horseshoe-shaped pillows at airports just to be safe.

ADVERTISEMENT

Do NOT Go Barefoot

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Turkish Airlines cabin crew members...
Mehmet Ali Ozcan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Mehmet Ali Ozcan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Everyone understands how uncomfortable it is to be stuck on a plane for more than two hours, but whatever you do, do not go barefoot on a plane!

ADVERTISEMENT

Plenty of accidents occur in flight, and while those accidents do get cleaned up, it's still not as sanitary as you'd hope, especially in between flights. Plus, cleaning supplies are limited on airplanes.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Brace Position

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Flight attendant inside an air Koryo tupolev plane, Pyongan Province, Pyongyang, North Korea
Eric Lafforgue/Art In All Of Us/Corbis via Getty Images
Eric Lafforgue/Art In All Of Us/Corbis via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When flight attendants go over the safety procedures before a flight, they detail the "brace position," in which passengers put their heads towards their knees and cup the back of their heads lightly.

ADVERTISEMENT

This position helps compact the body, protecting the vital organs from injury.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pack An Empty Water Bottle

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
empty-water-bottle-89418-23133.jpg
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Pack an empty water bottle to save money on the plane. In most cases, you would have to throw away a bottle with contents in it, so it's best to just bring an empty bottle.

ADVERTISEMENT

Airports have water fountains where you can fill your empty one right up. It will save you money, and it will save your flight attendants time, too.

ADVERTISEMENT

Is The Mile-High Club A Real Thing?

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A flight attendant holds a model of the Sukhoi Superjet 100...
Alexander Sayganov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Alexander Sayganov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Considering what we know about airplane bathrooms (let's be real — they're tiny, the lighting is awful, and they don't always smell so good), a mid-flight romp may not be ideal.

ADVERTISEMENT

Flight attendants carefully watch the bathrooms, so even going inside the bathroom with another person is nearly impossible, and if you get caught, you could face serious repercussions, including indecent exposure.

ADVERTISEMENT

Definitely Do Not Accept A Coffee

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Robert Alexander/Getty Images
Robert Alexander/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Many flight attendants wouldn't suggest drinking the coffee or tea served on flights.

ADVERTISEMENT

The tanks that the potable water is kept in apparently don't get cleaned as often as you'd think. And sometimes, the lavatory water valve is precariously close to the valve for clean water.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pilots Need Sleep, Too

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
urn_newsml_dpa_com_20090101_180513-99-288986-3-77487-43447.jpg
Christophe Gateau/picture alliance via Getty Images
Christophe Gateau/picture alliance via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If you have (or want to get) the proper education, and you don't mind being away from your family for extended periods of time, you should try being a pilot.

ADVERTISEMENT

Essentially, the plane flies itself, especially during long flights. The takeoff and landing are what pilots are mostly needed for.

ADVERTISEMENT

There's A Reason They Turn Off The Lights

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

As the plane prepares for takeoff, the lights in the cabin will get shut off, and there's actually a good reason for this.

ADVERTISEMENT

Takeoff and landing are the most problematic stages of a flight. The lights get turned off so that everyone's eyes can adjust to the light in the event of an emergency.

ADVERTISEMENT

Being Rude Gets You Nowhere

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
100243176-46872-15157.jpg
VCG via Getty Images
VCG via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If you are difficult on a flight, and you are a frequent flyer, it will be noted on your account you are troublesome.

ADVERTISEMENT

Just like getting a bad mark in school, you'll be considered a bad flyer regardless of how many flights you book.

ADVERTISEMENT

Germ Alert

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ts025b75-69974-36557.jpg
Yuri SmityukTASS via Getty Images
Yuri SmityukTASS via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If you have ever put your food on your tray and eaten, or even touched your tray at all, you have more than likely just eaten baby poo.

ADVERTISEMENT

More dirty items are laid out on those trays than food. And the trays are likely only cleaned once a day. That's just disgusting.

ADVERTISEMENT

Medical Emergencies Happen

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
British Airways liveried Airbus A380
Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty Images
Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Flight attendants and the rest of the crew are trained accordingly to handle a series of situations that may be thrown their way.

ADVERTISEMENT

Flight attendants are trained to act as first responders in a mid-flight emergency, which includes things like CPR and the Heimlich maneuver. All planes are also equipped with defibrillators and first aid kits if a passenger may need care during a flight.

ADVERTISEMENT

They're Using Their Cell Phones The Entire Time

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Inside The China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition
Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Besides getting paid to travel places, they also get free Wi-Fi and usage of their cellphones. They are often using their phones during the entire flight, unbeknownst to the casual flyer.

ADVERTISEMENT

They may not make the most money in the world, but they do get paid to travel the globe.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Engine Fact Is Kept Secret For A Reason

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Emirates Boeing 777 Flying Over The Netherlands
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Your flight attendant will never reveal is what happens in a flight if the plane's engine dies, so as not to worry the passengers.

ADVERTISEMENT

But truthfully, planes can glide perfectly fine if the engine goes out, and pilots are trained for this scenario.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Can't Share Food

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Domodedovo Airport's airline food factory
Anton NovoderezhkinTASS via Getty Images
Anton NovoderezhkinTASS via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Most airlines have a guideline in place that states flight attendants cannot share food on planes, which is meant to help avoid food poisoning.

ADVERTISEMENT

On international flights, crew meals are provided, but that's not always the case on domestic flights. That's why most flight attendants know that bringing their meal is always better.

ADVERTISEMENT

It Doesn't Actually Pay Very Well

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ftptrial-aa_30052018_755253-46689-85988.jpg
Mehmet Ali Ozcan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Mehmet Ali Ozcan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Flight attendants have work to do as soon as they enter the plane, such as doing safety checks before a flight and then greeting and assisting passengers during the boarding process.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, flight attendants only get paid a full rate for the hours that the engine starts and the plane pulls away from the gate. Hours spent not in the air are compensated with a rate as low as $1.50 an hour.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Best Time To Fly Is As Early As Possible

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Major Cities In Canada Adjust To Restrictive Coronavirus Measures
Andrew Chin/Getty Images
Andrew Chin/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Mostly because of uncertain weather conditions, the safest time to fly is always the earliest.

ADVERTISEMENT

The earlier you can wake up and get on a flight, the more likely you are to avoid thunderstorms. There is often also less turbulence on an earlier flight.

ADVERTISEMENT

How You Can Possibly Score An Upgrade

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Cabin crew training facility in Indonesian capital Jakarta
Dasril Roszandi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Dasril Roszandi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Many flight attendants say that they love customers who respond with a smile and a "thank you" and that you'd be surprised to know how often that doesn't happen.

ADVERTISEMENT

If you are nice to your flight attendant, you may even be able to score an upgraded seat. It will also help if you have a legitimate reason to be upgraded, such as being too tall, pregnant, or being a frequent flyer.

ADVERTISEMENT

They're Sizing You Up As You Board

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
afp_y372n-41290-69458.jpg
TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images
TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

As the passengers enter the plane, the flight attendants quickly make important assessments. They look over each and every passenger and make mental notes of who might be problematic or intoxicated, or who is traveling alone.

ADVERTISEMENT

They also look for those passengers who might be in need of extra assistance, and they must keep an eye out for who's strong and might be useful in an emergency.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unused Food Is Thrown In The Trash

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport American Airlines economy seat in-flight meal orange juice
Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Most of the time, whatever food is left over when the flight lands is thrown away. This isn't the absolute rule but is usually decided at the discretion of the captain.

ADVERTISEMENT

While it might not be the best practice to waste leftover food, it is the reality of the airline industry.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's Not Just Your Luggage In The Baggage Compartment

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Tupolev-154 passenger plane makes last commercial flight in Russia
Kirill KukhmarTASS via Getty Images
Kirill KukhmarTASS via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It's not just your luggage that is being stowed away on planes. Flight attendants revealed that there are sometimes human remains aboard along with your baggage.

ADVERTISEMENT

If someone passes away while traveling, they need to be repatriated, and one of the most efficient ways is through a commercial flight.

ADVERTISEMENT

They'll Cut You Off If They Need To

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Crew members in USA
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Not only is it illegal for flight attendants to enable passengers to get drunk on a flight, but it's also illegal to be intoxicated on a plane.

ADVERTISEMENT

Should you end up breaking that law, you can get up to a two-year sentence.

ADVERTISEMENT

Food Is Not Freshly Prepared

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Domodedovo Airport's airline food factory
Anton NovoderezhkinTASS via Getty Images
Anton NovoderezhkinTASS via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The truth is that most of those meals are made 12 to 72 hours in advance.

ADVERTISEMENT

These in-flight meals are packaged in a way that they can be refrigerated for up to five days and still be labeled as safe to eat.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Keep Their Hands Behind Their Backs For A Reason

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Government Reinforces With 200 Agents At Barajas Airport For This Summer
Alejandro Martinez Velez/Europa Press via Getty Images
Alejandro Martinez Velez/Europa Press via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Have you ever noticed that flight attendants always seem to greet passengers with their hands behind their backs? Turns out that there’s a good reason for this.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hiding their hands makes it easier to conduct a head count as people enter the plane – they’re keeping count on their fingers!

ADVERTISEMENT

What It's Like To Travel With Pets

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
New terminal of Chelyabinsk International Airport
Nail FattakhovTASS via Getty Images
Nail FattakhovTASS via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Some airlines will allow passengers to travel with pets, but is flying actually good for your pets?

ADVERTISEMENT

One flight attendant warns that while pets are made as comfortable as possible on flights, some inconveniences cannot be avoided. For instance, if your pet is sensitive to loud sounds, flying might not be the best option for them.

ADVERTISEMENT

There's A Secret Compartment For Their Naps

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
sleeping accommodations
Chris McGrath-Getty Images
Chris McGrath-Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When it comes to long-haul flights, you might get to take several snoozes but what about the flight crew? They constantly have to be around to tend to passenger needs and are always on their feet, but that seems like a lot for a flight that's over ten hours.

ADVERTISEMENT

Don't worry, flight attendants get to take their breaks too. Big planes like Boeing 777 or 787 jets have secret sleeping cabins built in for staff. These windowless sleeping quarters are built above or below the galley, so that's probably where your favorite flight attendant is if you've noticed you haven't seen them for a while.

ADVERTISEMENT

Buckle Up, Seriously

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Coronavirus - Hannover Airport
Hauke-Christian Dittrich/picture alliance via Getty Images
Hauke-Christian Dittrich/picture alliance via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Before taking off, flight attendants go through a number of safety checks to help put yout mind at ease.

ADVERTISEMENT

Planes have been designed to be incredibly sturdy, and most are even able to withstand being struck by lightning without taking damage.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Communicate With A Secret Code

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Turkish Airlines cabin crew members...
Mehmet Ali Ozcan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Mehmet Ali Ozcan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The flight crew uses subtle codes to communicate with each other about the goings on in the plane without alarming passengers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Those bells and chimes you often hear during a flight aren't for no reason. Those "dings" you hear at the beginning and end of a flight are used to signal to the crew that the most dangerous stages of the flight are over.

ADVERTISEMENT

Your Safety Is Not Compromised Based On Ticket Cost

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Aircraft seating configuration on a passenger jet
Peter Titmus/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Peter Titmus/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

If you fly a lot, you might wonder if flying an economy airline is less safe than other flights since the tickets are cheaper.

ADVERTISEMENT

The fact is that when it comes to passenger safety, it is impossible for airlines to cut costs. Instead, legroom, seat selection, and baggage fees are different ways that airlines can cut upfront costs for customers.